But was Stevens ever approached by a program as prestigious as UCLA during that time? I agree that there's a good chance he stays and Stevens seems like a guy who is content where he is and would turn down the very strong majority of jobs without hesitating, but when a storied program like UCLA comes calling he very well might listen. Opportunities like that don't come around too often.

But was Stevens ever approached by a program as prestigious as UCLA during that time? I agree that there's a good chance he stays and Stevens seems like a guy who is content where he is and would turn down the very strong majority of jobs without hesitating, but when a storied program like UCLA comes calling he very well might listen. Opportunities like that don't come around too often.

I wouldn't call it a joke of a job, but it certainly doesn't carry the weight it used to. There's just too much going on in Los Angeles nowadays for the Bruins to draw much attention.

Coaches don't want to go there for two main reasons: the first is that UCLA isn't an elite job anymore, and the second is that California is very expensive. On a side note, UCLA games were almost empty when they started this year.

Coaches don't want to go there for two main reasons: the first is that UCLA isn't an elite job anymore, and the second is that California is very expensive. On a side note, UCLA games were almost empty when they started this year.

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Originally Posted by ph90702

I forgot about the traffic. It takes an hour to go 10 miles. Also, the air pollution is downright horrible. People and businesses are leaving the state in droves.

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Originally Posted by ph90702

At least Las Vegas and New Mexico aren't going broke.

Yeah guys, ph is bringing up some really intelligent and insightful points here. Word on the street is that all the big coaching names are waiting for an opportunity in, wait for it...CHINA.

This isn't the 60s and 70s and these coaches don't care about the complete lack of basketball history in the country. Due to its massive population, rapidly expanding economy, and heavily attended games its the new sought after spot for college basketball coaches. Especially preferred are jobs in rural China due to their lack of traffic and extremely low cost of living.

Apparently jobs in the German countryside are also highly desired for similar reasons, but are considered a tier B option due to the extremely high cost of living when compared to rural China

Yeah guys, ph is bringing up some really intelligent and insightful points here. Word on the street is that all the big coaching names are waiting for an opportunity in, wait for it...CHINA.

This isn't the 60s and 70s and these coaches don't care about the complete lack of basketball history in the country. Due to its massive population, rapidly expanding economy, and heavily attended games its the new sought after spot for college basketball coaches. Especially preferred are jobs in rural China due to their lack of traffic and extremely low cost of living.

Apparently jobs in the German countryside are also highly desired for similar reasons, but are considered a tier B option due to the extremely high cost of living when compared to rural China

Texas is a better place to live than California. China also suffers from pollution.

UCLA is still a wanted job no matter what factors you put in it. That tradition there is pretty much unmatched. It does not matter that they have no field winnings team or a very good teams in the last couple seasons.

People thought UNC and Kentucky had lost their mystique too until they got the right guy.

I'm an East coast guy and even I know UCLA is still a high level job.

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Fear the Spear - Winston Era has begun....

Quote:

"I wasn't going to lose to Miami, no matter what," Freeman said. "It means a lot to go out there and beat them. Every time I get a chance, I want to destroy them."

UCLA is still a wanted job no matter what factors you put in it. That tradition there is pretty much unmatched. It does not matter that they have no field winnings team or a very good teams in the last couple seasons.

People thought UNC and Kentucky had lost their mystique too until they got the right guy.

I'm an East coast guy and even I know UCLA is still a high level job.

It's so high level that Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart want nothing to do with it. I think they're trying to build a legacy at their respective schools.

I think part of the issue is that it's not too difficult to have success at a school like VCU or Butler anymore. And there when you're in the top 25, making the tournament, getting to the sweet sixteen, etc it's still special. There's something to be said for being happy where you are and having that job security.

At UCLA I think the sense is that making the tournament (and even going far in the tournament) is an expectation. It's a high pressure job and pretty easy to get fired even if you're having success relative to other schools. And it seems like for at least some coaches, that's not something they really want to deal with at this point. It's a big time job, but the some of top guys out there seem like they may not want the big time job - at least for now.

I think they'll get a good coach, but maybe not their pick of the litter like you would typically think for a job like UCLA. Which was my perspective before, but I think that's a little clearer.